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Protesting DMK member Vasanthi Stanley faints in Rajya Sabha

Wednesday, Mar 20, 2013, 12:40 IST | Agency: DNA

Three DMK ministers on Wednesday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and submitted their resignation letters a day after the party announced its split from the UPA.

DMK MP Vasanthi Stanley

DMK member Vasanthi Stanley fainted in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday while protesting on Sri Lankan Tamil issue. She was  rushed to hospital.

The MP is a journalist and a writer.

Three Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) ministers on Wednesday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and submitted their resignation letters a day after the party announced its split from the United Progressive Alliance.

The DMK on Tuesday quit the UPA voicing regret over India's stand on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC, but government leaders insisted there was no threat to the ruling coalition.

DMK chief M Karunanidhi announced that his party was leaving both the multi-party coalition and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government after New Delhi's failure to take a hard line against Sri Lanka.

Unfazed by the DMK's withdrawal of support to the UPA, Government today asserted it was "absolutely stable" and not a "lame duck" and said it will move amendments to the resolution on Sri Lanka at UNHRC to send a "resolute message" on that country's human rights.

PTI reports:
DMK member Vasanthi Stanley today fainted in the Rajya Sabha while strongly raising the Sri Lankan Tamil issue, leading to a chaotic situation in the house.

Stanley was shouting full-throated slogans in the Well during Zero Hour seeking justice to Tamils in Sri Lanka as her colleagues as well members from arch rival AIADMK waved photographs of slain LTTE chief Prabhakaran's son killed by Sri Lankan forces.

Renuka Chowdhary, who was in the chair, immediately adjourned the House till 2 PM and called in doctors to attend to Stanley, who lay unconscious on the floor.

The DMK member was immediately rushed to Safdarjung Hospital after two doctors attended to her in the House. A stretcher as well as a wheel chair was also brought in but Stanley preferred to walk with support of members including party leader in the House Tiruchi Siva.

Members from the ruling party including Ambika Soni, D Purandeshwari, Rajeev Shukla as well as those from AIADMK and other parties rushed to help the sick member.

Earlier, the House was adjourned till noon over the issue of Sri Lankan Tamils and Union Minister Beni Prasad Verma's remarks against SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

As the House re-assembled, members from DMK and AIADMK trooped into the Well shouting slogans protesting atrocities on Tamils in Sri Lanka and the killing of Prabhakaran's son.

All the while, SP members led by Naresh Agarwal sought Verma's dismissal.

In the meantime, Stanley fell unconscious triggering a chaotic situation.

After adjourning the House, Chowdhary left her seat and went to the Well to ask Stanley as to how she was feeling. "Did you have your breakfast, madam?" she asked.

Chowdhary then asked members to leave and make way for Stanley while asking for doctors to attend to her. Stanley rested in a seat for a while before being taken to hospital.